The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-04-14

mer in Wyoming county, N. Y, says
that he can keep mor sheep through
the summe in an apple orchard than
he can in the same acreage without
the trees. The orchard and the sheep
are mutually benefited, the fallen fruit
feeding the sheep, and the latter not
only clearing the fruit of worms, but
greatly improving it by m%anuring the
trees.
sELLING COWS IN SPRING.
Cows usually sell we'll at this sea
son, and if a farmer has more than he
can keep in good feed all the summer,
it is much better to dispose of M or
more of the poorest, and give extra
feed and care to the remainder. But it
should always be the poorest COW that
is sold. In most places where the best
of feed is plentiful, the sale of the poor
est COW will increase rather than di-
minish the profits.
THE AGE TO RETIRE COWS.
A COW is in her prime at sever to
eight years of age, and for a year or
two before or after this time there is
little difference. II she is only me-
dunn as a milk or butter producer, she
should be turned off at eleven or
twelve years old, though of course ex-
ira valuable COWS from good milking
strains, should be bred as often and as
long as possible. The calf of a superior
COW eighteen years old ever may more
than pay the expense Of grinding and
cutting her feed, if that is necessary.
PLANTING TREES IN MANURE.
AS the time for planting trees ap-
proaches, enthusiastic beginners in this
business need ca%utioning against mix
ing manure with the soil on which
they are to be planted. The common
idea is to make the trees grow vigor-
ously but manure in contact with
roots torn or broken by transplanting
may rot them before they can start
the new fibres which alone can take
up plant food. Pack the clean soil
firmly around the roots leave it loose
on top, and as soon as it becomes hot
and dry, apply to the surface
around the tree, and this mainly as a
mulch the first season.
SELLING BUTTER PROMPTLY.
No farm product of equal value is
more unsatisfactory to hold for a rise
than butter. It's price, when newly
made, is nearly always the best. 1t is
SUBJECT to greater deterioration in quail
ity than any other product, and no
matter how carefully protected must
suffer some in comparison with that
which is freshly made. The old-fash-
Toned dairy butter made in June used
to be good for a twelve-month if packed
in sweet crooks and covered with salt
brine to exclude any odors. There is
little such butter now. That made by
the creamery process is frst-class while
fresh, but lacks keeping qualities. AS
= nearly all enterprising dairymen have
creameries there is less really good but
ter made from milk set in the old
fashioned way than formerly.
sows TOO FAT FOR BREEDING.
AS % as q SOW is got with pig, if
she be of a good-feeding breed she will
begin to fatten, and it will require ex-
ira care to avoid giving too much grain
or meal, which will surely make her
too fat. Milk with Stops from the
kitchen is an excellent feed, and if
something more solid is required it
will be found in mill feed and oatmeal
mixed. AS the SOW nears the time
for ~parturition, roots or some other
green food should be given, if possible.
1t often happens that excessively fat
sows have thin, scrawny and weakly
pigs. This is usually due to feeding
too much corn, which fattens the SOW,
while it furnishes little material for
building up the young which she is
carrying. These fat sows are more
likely to have fever when they drop
their young, and thus destroy them.
But when this danger is passed the
SOW cannot easily be too fat. The pigs
will be apt to unduly exhaust her un-
less she is generously fed.
SWEET POTATOES AS STOCK FEED.
By most Northern people the sweet
potato is eaten only sparingly, and as
it has to be bought often at a high
price it is regarded as a rather expen-
sive luxury. But it is very easily
grown, and with care and culture will
out-yield the common potato, especially
on poor ground. It's rampant vines
choke down weeds, making little cul-
ture necessary. Insome of the Southern
States the sweet nOtato is planta1 for